Chiefs’ Reid says Colquitt, Charles are fine; Flowers, Fisher still on the mend

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Monday during a news conference that punter Dustin Colquitt and running back Jamaal Charles are fine and that cornerback Brandon Flowers and offensive tackle Eric Fisher will continue to be evaluated for their respective injuries.

Colquitt suffered a knee sprain after a Giants player got a piece of the ball during a punt-block attempt Sunday, crashing into Colquitt’s leg. Despite his injury, Colquitt returned to the game, a 31-7 victory by the Chiefs. He dropped two punts inside the 20, giving him a league-high 15 on the season.

“Sometimes punter and kickers get a bad rap about toughness,” Reid said, “but this kid is a tough nut.”

Charles had “extensive” blisters on his feet, according to Reid, but is also OK. Charles rushed 18 times for 65 yards and also caught five passes for 62 yards against the Giants.

“The bottom of his feet were just a mess,” Reid said. “But the kid, he’s a tough kid. He likes to play. You appreciate that.”

Reid said cornerback Brandon Flowers, who was inactive Sunday, has knee inflammation and will be evaluated throughout the week. However, cornerback Dunta Robinson hinted Sunday that Flowers will be ready to play against the Titans.

“We’ve got a good defense, but we could be better,” Robinson said. “We get Brandon (Flowers) back next week. He was able to sit this one out and get his body back right. We’re just going to continue to roll.”

Tackle Eric Fisher has a concussion, but Reid remains unsure of the severity of it. He said Fisher got hurt when he collided with tight end Sean McGrath in the first half.

“I think when you look, he got hit more in the shoulder area than he did in the head which I think is a positive,” Reid said. “That’s why I say and I’m not a doctor, I don't evaliate these things, but he didn’t take that direct blow, that big blow to the head, which is a good thing for him and the most important thing. You’re not talking about the team here, you're talking about the kid as a person, not only now, but down the road.”

Reid praises Cooper

With Flowers out with a knee injury, cornerback Marcus Cooper made his first career start on Sunday and responded with two pass deflections. Reid said he was proud of Cooper, a 6-foot-2, 192-pound rookie, for rising to the occasion.

“There are some guys that have stepped up there, and Coop's one of them,” Reid said. “He's big, he's fast, he has good cover ability, good hips. He looks like he's pretty instinctive with things. And he's young in the league and he's also young at the position. I think it's just a matter of reps.”

Reid noted that Cooper showed no fear in going toe-to-toe with Victor Cruz, one of the league’s best vertical threats, and physical possession receiver Hakeem Nicks.

“He sure is competitive,” Reid said. “I appreciated seeing that. I thought that's a pretty good receiving corps out there and he didnt bow down at all. He came out and challenged and played good, competitive football.”